Earrings

How can anyone create fashion frisson with a pair of earrings? Surely these are the one accessory immune to style flu? Unfortunately we know otherwise. Bad earring-wearing habits appear to be spreading all over the country. Wide gold hoops engraved with fancy twirly lines worn next to a gold sleeper, next to a stud, is very popular, very pedestrian and very ugly. Pearl studs are fab worn with ultra lady-like clothes, but become uninspiring and dull when worn all the time.

Amazingly the shape of one's face, the length of the neck and how many chins you own have a huge impact on the shape of earrings that are right for you. You'd expect your hairstyle to be important too, but it's not. Same with clothing. Obviously mega-diamonds with wellies and mac is odd (unless you're naked underneath), but generally the more unexpected the pairing the better it looks.

• Long faces look good in chandelier-shaped earrings and they're able to carry off a stud.

• Round and dangly earrings will make a fatter face and chin look thinner.
• Round faces and hanging chins should stay away from studs or circular clip-ons.
• Short necks become even shorter next to long, dangly earrings that hang to the shoulder.
• If a short neck or small face wants to do discreet, opt for a plain gold or silver sleepers rather than studs.
• Plain golf-ball-sized hoops suit everyone.
• Cool earrings can transform a plain Jane.

• If the colours of your earrings complement your outfit they can be as sparkly as you like, even for the day.
• Don't wear fancy, dangly earrings if you want to look professional and relatively serious. Better to go for a great bracelet, brooch or necklace.
• Diamante looks wonderful when it is full on, over the top, but not so hot as when it's trying to be diamond stud. The latter looks like something fake trying to be real whereas a chandelier earring celebrates its false origins.